‘Countdown’ on for big trade call; ‘absolute steal’ after shock fall: NBA Draft Talking Points

The 2023 NBA draft has now handed and whereas some groups have landed doubtlessly franchise-altering abilities, others are left with extra questions than solutions.

From the following famous person who might ask for a commerce to the largest steals, listed here are a few of the key speaking factors from the draft.

CHARLOTTE WENT ‘ALL-IN’ ON MILLER…WILL IT PAY OFF?

The Charlotte Hornets have chosen Brandon Miller because the No. 2 total decide within the 2023 NBA Draft in a transfer that’s positive to generate loads of dialogue within the coming days.

While the Hornets had been reportedly selecting between Miller and Scoot Henderson, the 6-foot-9 small ahead from the University of Alabama has formally landed in Charlotte.

Henderson went No. 3 to the Trail Blazers.

Michael Jordan had the ultimate say on the No. 2 choice.

The Hornets introduced earlier this week that the NBA nice is promoting his majority possession stake within the group, however basic supervisor Mitch Kupchak mentioned he would defer to Jordan for the draft resolution in his Wednesday press convention.

Both Miller, 20, and Henderson, 19, had been in Charlotte on Monday for a non-public exercise, and Miller reportedly impressed Jordan throughout his second session with the group and wasn’t afraid to speak again both when challenged by the Chicago Bulls legend.

“He told me I was just a shooter,” Miller instructed Sirius XM.

“I was just shooting threes. … I know my talents and my abilities. Can’t really let Jordan get in your head. It might make him feel good and make you feel bad. I kind of talked some trash back to him. I witnessed him airball a free throw too. I always have that up against him.”

Miller’s offensive versatility and artful ball-handling is projected to pair properly with level guard LaMelo Ball who was Charlottes’ No. 3 decide in 2020, one motive why he edged Henderson for the No. 2 spot.

With a powerful three-level scoring potential and good size, Miller is tough to defend –– he’s in a position to shoot over guards, environment friendly with popping off the dribble and might pour it in from past the arc.

In his freshman season at Alabama this yr, Miller averaged 18.8 factors, 8.2 rebounds and a couple of.1 assists.

The new Hornet additionally earned first-team All-American honours and was the SEC’s participant and freshman of the yr.

The largest query although — and motive why this decide goes to spark a lot debate — is whether or not Charlotte ought to have taken a swing on the extra proficient Henderson or at the very least traded right down to take Miller.

That is, after all, to not say Miller isn’t proficient. He was the most effective gamers in faculty basketball final season.

Speaking to reporters earlier within the week, Hornets basic supervisor Mitch Kupchak mentioned match wouldn’t be an enormous consideration within the group’s closing resolution.

“As far as fit, you’re always going to pick the best player,” Kupchak mentioned.

“I would say that’s still the case today. Although we’re at a point in time where we’d consider fit, we’re not that team that’s been in the playoffs for three or four years, and you’re looking to tweak your roster and look for a fit. We’re not at that place right now.

“Our decision is going to remain to be looking for the player that we think is going to have the best overall career.”

Considering the reactions of some Hornets followers on Friday, it could take some convincing.

Although Charlotte followers nonetheless have a lot to stay up for with Henderson and Nick Smith Jr., who the Hornets took with the twenty seventh total decide.

Smith Jr. was the most effective gamers in his highschool class earlier than an injury-interrupted freshman season noticed him fall down draft boards.

The Arkansas guard although has loads of upside and was value taking the chance on, notably at this value.

— with New York Post

A BIG WIN FOR THE MAVERICKS FRONT OFFICE

If there was a powerful winner on Friday it was the Dallas Mavericks, who had been in a position to each handle a group want via the draft whereas additionally shedding the Davis Bertans contract.

The Mavericks had been extensively tipped to maneuver again from the No. 10 decide, which you’d have thought didn’t give them a lot leverage and will have resulted in an underwhelming return.

Instead, Dallas was in a position to commerce the tenth total decide together with Bertans to the Oklahoma City Thunder in change for the No. 12 decide and a traded participant exception.

Clearly the Thunder needed to draft Cason Wallace and had been apprehensive the Kentucky level guard wouldn’t have been on the board in the event that they stayed put.

For the Mavericks although it was the perfect state of affairs as they had been in a position to transfer just some spots again and take Duke massive man Dereck Lively II, who will instantly enhance their defence.

Lively II averaged 2.4 blocks in his one season at Duke and whereas he should still be a piece in progress on the offensive finish of the ball, Dallas doesn’t want extra factors anyway.

“Toward the end of the season, you saw him as a big time shot blocker, rim runner, rim protector and excellent in pick-and-roll,” faculty basketball guru Jay Bilas mentioned on ESPN’s protection.

“He shot 85 per cent as a pick-and-roll roller. I think a lot about Deandre Jordan when he came out of Texas A&M.

“I think Dereck Lively II’s offence can come. He’s got a nice touch. That will come in time. But the defence, the rebounding, running the floor, he’s got that already.”

Lively II was an excellent decide for Dallas however shifting off Bertan’s contract was simply as vital a transfer because it opened a $17 million commerce exception, which was later used to accumulate Sacramento heart Richaul Holmes.

Dallas additionally obtained the Kings’ twenty fourth total decide, which they used to draft Marquette junior ahead Olivier Maxence-Prosper.

“What an unbelievable set of moves for Dallas to trade down from No. 10 to No. 12, dump Davis Bertans’ contract and get Dereck Lively II,” wrote The Athletic’s entrance workplace knowledgeable John Hollinger.

“Lively and Dallas is the most perfect fit on the draft board outside the top few picks, a high-flying, rim-running, shot-blocking center who doesn’t need the ball. What a perfect complement to Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving; and amazingly, they were able to dump Bertans’ salary and still walk away from the draft with Lively. Just A+ stuff.”

HOUSTON ROCKETS STRIKE GOLD

What a outcome for the Rockets.

Some mock drafts had Cam Whitmore forward of Overtime Elite level guard Amen Thompson.

Instead, Thompson went fourth total for the Rockets whereas the Villanova ahead nosedived all the way in which down the draft and proper into Houston’s lap with the No. 20 decide.

There had been strategies the Rockets might commerce up from that decide, with The Athletic reporting there have been discussions on shifting up as excessive as tenth total instead of Dallas.

“One interesting wrinkle to Houston’s interest is the prospect of moving up from the No. 20 pick,” Kelly Iko of The Athletic wrote.

“Conversations up to this point are mainly conceptual, but there have been discussions about potentially moving up from 20 to a range anywhere from the Miami Heat at No. 18 to the Dallas Mavericks at No. 10, sources say.”

The Rockets didn’t need to do a factor although to land an especially proficient participant in Whitmore, who brings numerous athletic upside to a Houston group that may give him the house and room to develop.

“Whitmore is an absolute steal at 20th overall,” Bilas mentioned on ESPN.

“He’s a versatile defender and excellent cutter off-ball. He also attacks the rim like it has something against him, and has a solid shooting stroke.

“You don’t find athletes like this all the time, I thought he was a top-five talent coming into the draft.”

As for Thompson, there are the plain considerations about his taking pictures however loads of upside elsewhere given his dynamic playmaking and flexibility on the defensive finish.

Thompson averaged 16.3 factors, 6.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and a couple of.4 steals final season within the Overtime Elite and was described by draft knowledgeable Jonathan Givony as having “a higher ceiling than any prospect in this class not named Wembanyama”.

Speaking after he was drafted, Thompson additionally touched on his management abilities as one thing he can carry to a younger Houston group nonetheless in want of veteran presence within the locker room.

“I think I’ve become more of a vocal leader, but first I lead by example and I think I can bring that to Houston,” Thompson mentioned.

“I think Houston got a lot of players that have great potential, and I think they have a scary future.”

As for his match alongside Jalen Green within the Houston backcourt, Thompson mentioned he was trying ahead to being on a group with a number of playmaking choices.

“I see two very athletic guards who can push the tempo, push the pace, both ball handlers,” added Thompson.

“I like to be on a team with as many people who can make plays for us as possible, and I think that’s what we’ve got over there.”

BUT WHAT WAS BEHIND CAM WHITMORE’S FALL?

Most draft consultants appeared to have Cam Whitmore mocked inside the highest 10 picks for Friday’s draft.

Even ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that whereas there was discuss the Villanova ahead might drop down the board, he was solely anticipated to fall in direction of the “back-end of the lottery”.

Instead, Whitmore was nonetheless out there when the Houston Rockets had been on the clock at twentieth total. So, what occurred?

Well, harm considerations had been doubtlessly in charge in accordance with ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, though Whitmore dismissed these claims on Friday.

“No, I promise you there’s not,” he mentioned.

“I have no idea. I don’t know what happened. But I feel fine. It’s my body. If they think it’s something different, they have their own opinions. But at the end of the day, it’s my body.”

Meanwhile, Wojnarowski reported that Whitmore didn’t interview notably properly within the lead-up to the draft.

“Teams and front offices described a combination of some poor workouts, some not great interviews with teams over the last month as part of the reason Cam Whitmore has dropped,” Wojnarowski mentioned on ESPN.

“I saw him in a workout for his agency, WME, in Santa Barbara in May where he really impressed teams. Literally all 30 teams were there but his individual workouts and interviews with teams have not been as strong.

“There was a sense he may drop tonight to the back-end of the lottery but now Cam Whitmore is dropping towards No. 20 as we approach the second half of the first round.”

Sliding down the draft board didn’t appear to trouble Whitmore although, who instructed reporters after he was drafted that he’s used to being ignored and would use it as motivation.

“I’ve been overlooked a lot of times in my life, so it didn’t really faze me,” he mentioned.

“I’m just really happy to be in the NBA. I’ve been dreaming about that all my life.

“…. It motivates me to like 150 percent to — I don’t even know… it’s just something where I’ve got to rethink, go in the next day, new mind, free mind. Coming into that organisation with a chip on my shoulder, have a lot of motivation on my mind.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really faze me. I know I’m different than everybody else, but it’s just another chapter in my life, another step in the journey. Time to get to work.”

SCOOT HAS HIS MENTOR… BUT WILL DAME STILL BE THERE?

When the Hornets determined to take Miller with the second total decide, it introduced the Blazers with the right alternative.

In drafting G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson, Portland now has a future star within the making to construct round ought to Damian Lillard ask out. If not, the Blazers will discover a method to work round any potential match points.

They clearly didn’t obtain any commerce presents that justified giving up the possibility to cross on a franchise-altering prospect.

Portland basic supervisor Joe Cronin mentioned following the draft that the group would proceed to construct round Lillard and that choosing Henderson was a part of that plan.

“We’re a team that’s trying to win and trying to maximise Damian’s timeline,” he mentioned.

The Blazers might nonetheless make strikes in free company to raised place the group to compete now, though because it stands they do face an ungainly dilemma after drafting Henderson.

Lillard had been open earlier within the yr in telling media that he wasn’t thinking about creating extra younger gamers and now Portland drafted a 19-year-old prospect at his place.

Henderson is definitely eager in regards to the concept of studying from the most effective within the league.

“I’m hoping to get to play with Dame, for sure,” Henderson mentioned in his post-draft media availability.

“Special talent, special guard. One of my favourites to watch, especially film-wise. Just to pick out how he moves off the court, as well. It would be cool to play with him.”

The possibilities of that taking place although are up within the air at this stage, with J.J. Redick declaring the “countdown” is now on for a possible commerce request from Lillard.

“They start and end with Damian Lillard and he’s indicated he doesn’t want to continue down the path that they’re on,” Redick mentioned on ESPN.

“He wants veteran players that are going to help them win now and when they picked Scoot Henderson and held onto that pick, that signifies to me that we’re now on a countdown. At some point Damian Lillard may get moved because there is no real path to contention for this current roster.”

Speaking after the draft on ESPN, insider Wojnarowski mentioned the choice will in the end be as much as Lillard as as to whether he believes this group in its present kind will be capable of contend for a title.

“What it says to me is they did what is right for the franchise and that was to take a potential All-Star level and franchise level point guard at No. 3 instead of just settling for what the best available veteran might have been in a trade,” Wojnarowski mentioned.

“When you are the Portland Trail Blazers, when you are a small market, you don’t get many cracks like this, you’re not going to get big free agents. You can’t miss.

“Damian Lillard has a decision to make, if he doesn’t like this timeline of these young players … Portland wants to keep building around Damian Lillard and continue to make moves after the draft and in free agency with trades, re-signing Jerami Grant.

“If he decides he wants a trade, I think the organisation will accommodate him, try to get the kind of young assets they want and draft picks.

“But they don’t want to trade him and I know teams who called Portland about Damian Lillard were immediately shut down… it’s ultimately up to Damian Lillard next to decide whether he wants to see what this young group can be around him or go in another direction.”

Watch this house.

BIG OPPORTUNITIES FOR POOLE, PAUL IN BLOCKBUSTER TRADE

Meanwhile, in case you missed it, there was drama even earlier than Friday’s draft acquired underway as Chris Paul was dealt to the Golden State Warriors in change for Jordan Poole.

Paul, who had been despatched to the Washington Wizards as a part of Phoenix’s commerce for three-time All-Star Bradley Beal, was extensively anticipated to be on the transfer once more forward of the draft.

Initial reviews steered Paul would find yourself in Los Angeles on the Clippers however in the long run it was one other contender who made a transfer for the veteran guard.

By buying and selling for Paul and parting methods with Poole, the Warriors made it clear they’re intent on successful now as an alternative of following a two-timeline plan that additionally concerned creating the way forward for the franchise.

Poole was getting into the primary yr of a four-year, $140 million contract extension whereas in distinction, Paul is ready to earn $30.8 million this season.

The 12-time All-Star additionally has a non-guaranteed deal for $30 million subsequent season whereas Klay Thompson is getting into the ultimate season of his max contract.

The commerce, due to this fact, might give Golden State extra monetary flexibility because it seems to maneuver underneath the second tax apron and the punishments that include that as a part of the brand new CBA.

It additionally appears to sign that the Warriors will now transfer to re-sign Draymond Green, who lately opted out of his $27.6 million contract for subsequent season.

There will likely be query marks over what the offence will appear like given Golden State likes to push the tempo in transition, one thing which doesn’t essentially go well with Paul’s recreation.

Then there’s the matter of how lengthy Paul can keep wholesome and whether or not the Warriors will remorse buying and selling Poole, who that they had relied on for high-level manufacturing when accidents hit.

If Paul is wholesome and Golden State makes the playoffs although, that is the type of transfer that would ship one other championship to the Warriors.

Just as importantly, that will imply Paul lastly getting his first ring.

As for Poole, whereas he had his moments at Golden State, being traded to Washington will give him an opportunity to actually step into the highlight with added duty on a rebuilding group.

“Jordan Poole may lead the league in scoring next season,” joked Redick on ESPN’s broadcast of the draft.

“He’s going to have a lot of freedom on that team.”

It would hardly be shocking to see Poole proper up there in competition for Most Improved Player come the playoffs.